When buying a new computer, people tend to focus more on brands rather than the software and components in the computer. One of the components that gets overlooked the most often is the operating system. There are dozens of operating systems; perhaps even a couple of hundred from people to choose from. The majority of people will know Windows and Apple computers. Each operating system has its pros and cons; so it is essential to know how you will be using your computer.
If you’re going to be using our computer for the home doing everyday tasks, it would be best to purchase a Windows computer. These tend to be cheaper than other types of computers and can be easily upgraded in the case that you need the additional power. The vast majority of games are also created for Windows
What people don’t know is that even Windows has different versions of the same operating systems. The majority of personal computers that are bought for the home come in the standard Windows edition. There are several other versions of Windows that allow users to do things that are not possible in the standard version. Regardless of the version which you have, Microsoft Windows are prone to viruses. There is a never ending number of viruses that are being created. This can become an issue for those who are not tech savvy enough to avoid them.
Apple computers tend to run on the more expensive end of things. Although they are not completely virus free, they are significantly fewer threats for Apple computers. An advantage of having an Apple computer, if you have the money for it, you can install Boot Camp and install Windows on your Apple computer. This way, you have the best of both worlds; again, if you have the money to buy the Windows operating system. The operating system itself, is very user friendly. The biggest problem is that a vast majority of software gets developed for Apple at a slower rate than the software for Windows; specially games. Apple computers are great for those that that want to get into digital media and editing.
There are other operating systems that are starting to become more popular. These new operating systems can be tailored to fit the needs of the users. The most popular alternative operating system is Linux. From Linux, the more popular one is Ubuntu. Linux has been historically known for being very technical; alienating the average users. Over that past few years, there has been a major improvement in the Linux operating system to make it more user friendly. The biggest advantage to this operating system is that it’s free. You can also dual boot with a computer that has the Windows operating system; this way you can choose which operating system you want to use each time you turn on the computer. Another advantage to this OS is that you can install it on an old computer. Linux tends to run faster and smoother than other operating systems on older systems.
